Episode 1 – Welcome on a new adventure with Luca, Giulia and Simone
Meet Luca, Simone and Giulia, three humanitarian workers of Doctors without Borders serving in Sierra Leone and get to know the maternal and child health projects they are working on. They have just arrived in Sierra Leone and share their first impressions about the big issues the country faces, the struggles of the expat life and the motivation that keeps them going giving their best for people in need.

SCRIPT:

0:14 - Luca
This is our office, and this is where we live.
Hi, I am Luca. I am in Sierra Leone and I am the person who will send you some information about the project over the next months. It is a maternal and child health project. This means it assists women expecting a baby, children below the age of five – with primary health care - and children below the age of fifteen – with secondary health care.
0:49 - Simone
Doctors without Borders just launched a new project in Kenema: the building of a new maternity and pediatric hospital.
My name is Simone, I am 36 years old and I am from Pietra Ligure. I am the Construction Manager here.
1:08 - Giulia
Hello everyone. I am Giulia. I am the Water and Sanitation Specialist for the hospital project in Hangha. I am from the province of Venice and I just arrived here in Sierra Leone. This is my fourth mission with MSF. I am ready to start this challenge, a big one, because - as you can see - around us, we have nine hectares and soon the buildings of the hospital will take them up.
1:39 - Luca
I am Project Coordinator. This means being responsible of all project activities here in Sierra Leone. One of the things which strikes me about Sierra Leone is the extreme poverty and the fact that 70% of this country lives with less than 2 dollars a day. This country experienced a civil war from 1991 to 2002.
2:09 - Giulia
The effects of the Ebola epidemic of 2015 are still visible. In Sierra Leone, there has been the highest number of infected people: 14.000 cases in roughly two years.
2:20 - Luca
Another consequence of Ebola is that about 10% of the local medical staff was infected with the disease and passed away. This has dealt a serious blow to this country. After the Ebola emergency, we have asked ourselves what to do, whether to stay after this epidemic. The answer has been positive, as the maternal and infant mortality rate in this country is still one of the highest worldwide.
2:45 - Simone
Unfortunately, Sierra Leone is among the countries with the highest mortality rate for pregnant women - as there are still problems during childbirth - and for children, due to problems during birth and during the first months.
3:03 - Giulia
I really like how we work together. We share all decisions; we are truly a team.
3:08 - Simone
The expat-life is not easy. It is four years now that I live around in Africa. The memory of home is still a thorn in my side.
3:20 - Giulia
My parents are not very happy. They tend to worry. They probably want to convince me to go back.
3:27 - Luca
If there is someone who does not agree? Yes, my daughter…she does not agree much. My daughter is 8 years old, almost nine. This kind of job requires some sacrifices. You give up your family and friends.
3:40 - Giulia
You see the needs of the population; therefore, you are never able to turn off your brain completely. You are always thinking about how to improve, how to improve what you are doing. You are always thinking about work somehow.
3:54 - Simone
I am doing the greatest job on earth. It has always been my dream to build a hospital. I started working towards this dream four years ago. Finally, I am making this dream come true.
4:07 – Giulia
Well, the reason why I work with Doctors without Borders is that I am not able to stay home quietly, in Europe, with the idea that there are a lot of people who have absolutely nothing of what we have.
4:25 - Luca
Waking up in the morning and looking in the mirror: I am not doing something in the interest of one person or one firm, but of beneficiaries. Right from the beginning, these are the reasons that have motivated me to do this job.
4:41 – Simone
Among the expat-community, Italians are known as the cooks. It may seem trivial, but also the food, in the long run, is something you miss. Today, mashed potatoes. They are not exactly the same as the ones my mom prepares, but they are all right. Then chicken and salad.
The dish that I miss the most is a good pasta with pesto.
Are we joking?
…the flavors that I grew up with.